Introduction: Management of open leg bones fractures is a challenging health issue for the surgeon, particularly true in resource-limited settings. In this study, we evaluate exclusive fibular osteosynthesis in the treatment of open fractures of the distal half of the leg bones as a therapeutic option in our context. Methods: This is a prospective, experimental, multicenter study of 30 open fractures of the distal half of the leg bones treated with exclusive fibula osteosynthesis, conducted in 3 hospitals in the DRC from January 1, 2013 to September 30, 2016. Results: The age range of 20 to 40 years grouped 22 (73.4%) patients, the sex ratio was 1:1 and the unemployed were the most involved with 16 (53.3%) cases. The Gustilo II, I, III B and III A types represented 40%, 33.3%, 20% and 6.7%, respectively. The fractures were located in the distal third in 12 (40%) cases, in the middle third in 11 (36.7%) cases, and in both malleoli in 7 cases (23.3%). Osteosynthesis of the fibula by screw plate was applied in 22 (73.3%) patients and pinning in 8 (26.7%). Satisfactory reduction of the tibial fracture site was achieved in 29 (96.7%) cases and 100% bone healing was achieved within an average of 10 weeks. Four (13.3%) loss of alignment, 1 (3.3%) infection, 1 (3.3%) skin necrosis and 2 (6.7%) ankle stiffness complicated our fractures. Conclusion: Exclusive osteosynthesis of the fibula as a common technique for fractures of the distal half of the leg bones allowed us to reduce, immobilize and consolidate the tibial fracture in the required time and to preserve the mobility of the ankle.
References
[1]
Giovannini, F., de Palma, L., Panfighi, A. and Marinelli, M. (2016) Intramedullary Nailing versus External Fixation in Gustilo Type III Open Tibial Shaft Fractures: A Meta-Analysis of Randomised Controlled Trials. Strategies in Trauma and Limb Reconstruction, 11, 1-4. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11751-016-0245-7
[2]
Gondalia, V. and Siddiqui, S.S. (2015) “Management of Open Fracture of Tibia Diaphysis (Gustilo-Anderson Classification Type-II and Above)”. Journal of Evolution of Medical and Dental Sciences, 4, 7032-7041. https://doi.org/10.14260/jemds/2015/1021
[3]
Larsen, P., Elsoe, R., Hansen, S.H., Graven-Nielsen, T., Laessoe, U. and Rasmussen, S. (2015) Incidence and Epidemiology of Tibial Shaft Fractures. Injury, 46, 746-750. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.injury.2014.12.027
[4]
Johal, H., Schemitsch, E.H. and Bhandari, M. (2014) Why a Decade of Road Traffic Safety? Journal of Orthopaedic Trauma, 28, 8-10 https://doi.org/10.1097/BOT.0000000000000104
[5]
Gill, S.P., Raj, M., Kumar, S., Singh, P., Kumar, D., Singh, J. and Deep, A. (2016) Early Conversion of External Fixation to Interlocked Nailing in Open Fractures of Both Bone Leg Assisted with Vacuum Closure (VAC)-Final Outcome. Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research: JCDR, 10, RC10-RC14. https://doi.org/10.7860/JCDR/2016/17612.7265
[6]
Dixit, P., Kripalani, S., Kulkarni, S.G., Saxsena, S. and Rathi, P.P. (2015) Treatment Results Of Spiral and Oblique Distal One-Third Tibia-Fibula Fractures With Interlocking Nails and Poller Screw. Journal of Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery, 10, 2-5.
[7]
Kamath, J.B., Shetty, M.S., Joshua, T.V., Kumar, A. and Naik, D.M. (2012) Soft Tissue Coverage in Open Fractures of Tibia. Indian journal of Orthopaedics, 46, 462-469. https://doi.org/10.4103/0019-5413.97265
[8]
Yu, B., Huang, G., George, J.T., Li, W., Pan, S. and Zhou, H. (2013) Single-Incision Technique for the Internal Fixation of Distal Fractures of the Tibia and Fibula: A Combined Anatomic and Clinical Study. Archives of orthopaedic and trauma surgery, 133, 1631-1637. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00402-013-1856-9
[9]
Li, B., Yang, Y. and Jiang, L.S. (2015) Plate Fixation versus Intramedullary Nailing for Displaced Extra-Articular Distal Tibia Fractures: A System Review. European Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery & Traumatology, 25, 53-63. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00590-013-1362-3
[10]
Uwonda, A. and Panda, M.B. (2010) La minifixation externe des os des extrémités par le minifixateur “K-Digifix”. Annales Africaines de Médecine,3, 419-425.
[11]
Ibrahimu, T.K., Ibrahimu, B., Makekita, W.M. and Mudimisi, M. (2016) Les complications mécaniques de l’enclouage centromédullaire du fémur en milieu précaire. A propos de 6 observations à l’Hôpital de N’djili, Kinshasa. Revue médicale des Grands Lacs, 5, 96-103.
[12]
Kuyigwa, T.G., Uwonda, A.B. and Ahuka, O.L. (2014) Ostéosynthèse exclusive de la fibula dans le traitement des fractures ouvertes du tiers distal des os de la jambe en milieu à ressources limitées. Revue médicale des Grands Lacs, 3, 53-62.
[13]
Kitoko, R.A., Asolanyongo, M.K., Losimba, J.L., Georis, P., Gillet, P. and Bruyère, O. (2016) Pratique de l’ostéosynthèse des fractures de jambe en République démocratique du Congo. Revue de Chirurgie Orthopédique et Traumatologique, 102, 306-309. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rcot.2015.10.022
[14]
Abouchane, M., Fadili, A., Belmoubarik, A., El Andaloussi, Y. and Nechad, M. (2015) Leg Fractures with Intact Fibula: Orthopedic Treatment or Intramedullary Nailing? (Comparative Study About 60 Cases). The Pan African Medical Journal, 20, Article No. 222. https://doi.org/10.11604/pamj.2015.20.222.6164
[15]
Dieme, C., Sarr, L., Gueye, P.A., Gueye, A.B., Sané, A. and Ndiaye, A. (2015) Les fractures de jambe à fibula inctate au service d’orthopédie-traumatologie CHU Aristide le Dantec. Tunisie Orthopédique, 7, 21-24.
[16]
Tekin, A.Ç., Saygılı, M.S., Adaş, M., Çabuk, H., Arslan, S.M. and Dedeoğlu, S.S. (2015) Outcome of Type 3 Open Tibial Diaphyseal Fractures Managed with a Limb Reconstruction System: Analysis of a 49-Patient Cohort. Medical Principles and Practice, 25, 270-275. https://doi.org/10.1159/000443257
[17]
Asloum, Y., Bedin, B., Roger, T., Charissoux, J.L., Arnaud, J.P. and Mabit, C. (2014) Internal Fixation of the Fibula in Ankle Fractures. A prospective, Randomized and Comparative Study: Plating versus Nailing. Orthopaedics Traumatology: Surgery & Research, 100, 255-259. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.otsr.2014.03.005
[18]
De Giacomo, A.F. and Tornetta, P. (2016) Alignment after Intramedullary Nailing of Distal Tibia Fractures without Fibula Fixation. Journal of Orthopaedic Trauma, 30, 561-567. https://doi.org/10.1097/BOT.0000000000000637
[19]
Ahmed, N., Khan, M.S., Afridi, S.A., Awan, A.S., Afridi, S.K. and Sultan, S. (2016) Efficacy and Safety of Interlocked Intramedullary Nailing for Open Fracture Shaft of Tibia. Journal of Ayub Medical College Abbottabad, 28, 341-344.
[20]
Ramos, T., Eriksson, B.I., Karlsson, J. and Nistor, L. (2014) Ilizarov External Fixation or Locked Intramedullary Nailing in Diaphysealtibial Fractures: A Randomized, Prospective Study of 58 Consecutive Patients. Archives of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery, 134, 793-802. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00402-014-1970-3
[21]
Gupta, R.K., Rohilla, R.K., Sangwan, K., Singh, V. and Walia, S. (2010) Locking Plate Fixation in Distal Metaphysealtibial Fractures: Series of 79 Patients. International Orthopaedics, 34, 1285-1290. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00264-009-0880-4
[22]
Vallier, H.A., Cureton, B.A. and Patterson, B.M. (2011) Randomized, Prospective Comparison of Plate versus Intramedullary Nail Fixation for Distal Tibia Shaft Fractures. Journal of Orthopaedic Trauma, 25, 736-741. https://doi.org/10.1097/BOT.0b013e318213f709
[23]
Piwani, M., Bhutto, I.A. and Ahmed, I. (2015) Evaluation of AO External Fixator in the Management of Open Diaphysial Fracture of Tibia Gustilo Type IIIa and IIIb. Gomal Journal of Medical Sciences, 13, 66-69.
[24]
Vallier, H.A., Cureton, B.A. and Patterson, B.M. (2012) Factors Influencing Functional Outcomes after Distal Tibia Shaft Fractures. Journal of Orthopaedic Trauma, 26, 178-183. https://doi.org/10.1097/BOT.0b013e31823924df
[25]
Sciadini, M.F., Manson, T.T. and Shah, S.B. (2013) Trans-Syndesmotic Fibular Plating for Fractures of the Distal Tibia and Fibula with Medial Soft Tissue Injury: Report of 6 Cases and Description of Surgical Technique. Journal of Orthopaedic Trauma, 27, 65-67. https://doi.org/10.1097/BOT.0b013e3182604582
[26]
Bonnevialle, P., Lafosse, J.M., Pidhorz, L., Poichotte, A., Asencio, G. and Dujardin, F. (2010) Distal Leg Fractures: How Critical is the Fibular Fracture and Its Fixation? Orthopaedics & Traumatology: Surgery & Research, 96, 667-673. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.otsr.2010.07.002
[27]
Müller, T.S. and Sommer, C. (2012) Minimally Invasive Plate Osteosynthesis of the Distal Tibia. Operative Orthopädie und Traumatologie, 24, 354-367. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00064-012-0169-4
[28]
Rouhani, A., Elmi, A., Akbari Aghdam, H., Panahi, F. and Dokht Ghafari, Y. (2012) The Role of Fibular Fixation in the Treatment of Tibia Diaphysis Distal Third Fractures. Orthopaedics & Traumatology: Surgery & Research, 98, 868-872. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.otsr.2012.09.009
[29]
Mathieu, L., Mottier, F., Bertani, A., Danis, J., Rongiéras, F. and Chauvin, F. (2014) Management of Neglected Open Extremity Fractures in Low-Resource Settings: Experience of the French Army Medical Service in Chad. Orthopaedics & Traumatology: Surgery & Research, 100, 815-820. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.otsr.2014.06.017
[30]
Esan, O., Ikem, I.C., Oginni, L.M. and Esan, O.T. (2014) Comparison of Unreamed Interlocking Nail and External Fixation in Open Tibia Shaft Fracture Management. West African Journal of Medicine, 33, 16-20.
[31]
Foote, C.J., Guyatt, G.H., Vignesh, K.N., Mundi, R., Chaudhry, H. and Heels-Ansdell, D. (2015) Which Surgical Treatment for Open Tibial Shaft Fractures Results in the Fewest Reoperations? A Network Meta-Analysis. Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research®, 473, 2179-2192. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11999-015-4224-y